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Libya's rival parliaments agree new date to sign peace deal

Xinhua, December 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Libya's two rival parliaments announced on Friday that Dec. 16 is the date to sign the final peace agreement.

"We have agreed that Dec. 16 will be the date for signing the final agreement to form a government in Libya after 14 months of negotiations," said Mohammed Shuaib, representative for Libya's internationally recognized parliament House of Representatives (HOR).

The representative for the rival Islamist-dominated General National Congress (GNC), Saleh al-Makhzum, also confirmed the new deadline, adding that "the UN-sponsored dialogue is the most suitable. This agreement will have a positive impact on Libyans."

Libya is now suffering a political crisis with two rival parliaments and governments battling for legitimacy amid a state of insecurity and anarchy years after the downfall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The United Nations has sponsored dialogue sessions between Libyan rivals, in and outside Libya, in order to end the country's political division.

Despite the agreement announced on Friday, analysts said there are still hardliners in both parliaments and may jeopardize the final deal.

Head of UN Support Mission in Libya Martin Kobler urged both parliaments, saying the agreement is to every sides' interests.

"The international community is very interested in this process, in particular the threat emanating from terrorism. There must be a legitimate government very soon." Kobler added.

The rival factions in Libya will talk further on Sunday in Rome. Endit